Mumbai, the city of Bollywood and of its famous movie stars. But it's also the city where more than 60% of the population lives in slums. Traditionally, municipalities destroy them and relocate their inhabitants in new structures. Even if that ruins the existing social bonds and the economy in these areas.

The urban planners from Urbz intend to give the people a voice on the future of their home and on the rebuilding of their neighborhood. And of course, when you put the users at the heart of the discussions, you discover that they do not over invest in the rehabilitation of their homes simply because they fear to be dislodged at any time. When Urbz launches its Homegrown Cities project, they invite the inhabitants to a participative urban upgrading approach. And it works! Pilot experiments, new infrastructures of urban development: hand in hand, residents, architects and entrepreneurs invent their city of tomorrow.

Photo: Urbz